Mazda BT-50 goes back to the basics

4WD trainer Steve McMinn shows a driver where to go during the facelifted BT-50's media launch
at Poronui Station, near Taupo.

Wheel in the air, the BT-50 displays its reasonable articulation.

Unlike the Ford Ranger (below) Mazda has been conservative with its BT-50 facelift, even dropping its top Limited model in order to concentrate on the core fleet, farm and trades segments of the market. Like the Ranger, though, there's nothing in the upgrade that's going to make it a better off roader, unless you're trying one of the 2WD variants that now all have a rear diff lock as standard.